Recently a friend gave us a packet of richly scented vanilla fleur de sel. We're thinking it would be excellent sprinkled on salt caramels ... or macarons! What would you do with this unusual ingredient?
Although we mostly imagine using this aromatic seasoning to enhance sweets, it also brings to mind the vanilla in tomato soup trick we discovered a couple years ago. Can you think of any other savory dishes that would benefit from a pinch of vanilla fleur de sel? How would you use it?
• Find it: Taha'a Vanilla Finishing Salt at The Meadow
• Or make your own: Vanilla Salt: A Homemade Gift at Not Without Salt
Related: Good Question: What Is Vanilla Powder?
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sprinkled on chocolate chip cookies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Salt caramels came to mind. But the Choc chip cookies sound intriguing. My kitchen just isn't big enough for all this gourmet stuff. First tangerine dust, now this. Already have 4 diff kinds of salt in the cabinet, I just can't keep up...
Shortbread dipped in chocolate and the vanilla salt...
http://tastytype.blogspot.com/2009/09/boulettes-larder-shortbread-with.html
And on top of chocolate almond toffee...
http://tastytype.blogspot.com/2009/12/chocolate-almond-toffee.html
Great in homemade peanut butter chocolate cups too:
http://tastytype.blogspot.com/2011/01/peanut-butter-chocolate-cups.html
I always lightly salt cinnamon toast, it could be good on your pancakes too, or some popcorn
I've heard Vanilla Salt is quite tasty on corn-on-the-cob.
Caramels, macaroons and cinnamon French toast all sound like great suggestions for vanilla salt. But how about this one? Gourmet homemade pretzels! (soft or crunchy)
I would probably be pretty good in chocolate milk!
In steel cut oatmeal or on buttered challah toast.
Salt the rim of a cocktail. Maybe something like 2 oz vodka + 1/2 oz apricot brandy + 1/2 oz triple sec + 1 oz fresh orange with a twirl of orange rind served up in a martini glass with a vanilla-salted rim (somewhere between a margarita and a creamsicle?). Or could go the coffee route...
brownies!
Salt on fruit, SE Asian/Mexican style. So, vanilla salt on mango, cantaloupe, strawberries, etc....
How about on the rim of a Salty Dog?
http://www.two-tarts.com/2011/04/salty-dog-with-vanilla-salt-rim.html
Some savory options: scrambled eggs, chicken, and beans. Try it out with dishes that you already make with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, chiles - I can see it working really well. Maybe try it in Indian food?
Butternut squash risotto.
Granola, sweet potatoes, crusty bread.
The guy at the Meadow salt shop told me that is is divine on scallops! I can see that, and mild fish, lobster too.
Lobster and vanilla go well together. I would definitely give that a go if you've got a lobster laying around. In which case, invite me over.
Sweet potato fries
Steak. Something about the warmness.
in hot chocolate
I was going to go the mild fish (i.e. tilapia) or lobster route, too.
I think it'd be mean on the rim of a paloma (grapefruit juice + tequila = love).
Rice pudding!
On my salted oatmeal cookies it would be divine. I'm going to have to find some of this!
And what in the world would one do with tangerine dust???
i use home made vanilla salt on my grilled lobster every time and finished with fine herbs
Ice cream!!